My new client gets head pain next to the left eye when ever she starts to train?
You always refer pain to a physician for clearance. WE DO NOT DIAGNOSE! If you don’t have a medical license, you had better not be trying to make a diagnosis.
You can look into what it could be on your own time, but to not advising them to get something like this checked out asap is inviting a negligence claim. Always err on the side of caution.
It scares me that someone would suggest otherwise.
My answer is ALWAYS “when in doubt, refer the client to their physician for a diagnosis.” In my opinion, knowing what we DON’T know is just as important as knowing what we DO – particularly when it comes to someone’s health.
LaRue, CSCS
www.lecfitness.com
[email protected]
I don’t concur with all of the answers. I also don’t know all the answers. But before people JUMP to saying refer to MD.
We need to think, stop and assess what the client is presenting with while always remember safety.
You have to determine the quality of pain, intensity, severity. First and foremost. Yes eye pain is serious but is it intermittent or constant.
Constant eye pain particularly acute or chronic should not involve and exercise and the client should see a MD.
Intermittent eye pain particularly if the client says to the side or “behind my eye” can replicate
cluster headaches that the client will describe almost a ring around the eye.
Typical epidemiological features of cluster headaches are:
more common in males, may last 2 weeks to 3 months in duration, they occur at night, characterized by trigeiminal nerve pain, associated symptoms are nasal stuffiness, ptosis.
Easing factors: ice compress, diaphragmatic breathing and relaxation techniques and sitting upright.
Aggravating factors:stress, alcohol consumption, fever, bright lights or glare/
Pathology of condition: per the literature is a biochemical and neuro inflammatory process in nature.
Physician typically refers sumatriptain for acute attaches.
Mgt strategies such as smoking cessation, lifestyle modifiucation are key.
References:
Beck, E. et al, 2005, management of cluster headache, ‘American Family Physician, vol.71, no 4, pp. 717-724.
Zakrewska, J.M. 2001, Cluster Headache, Review of the literature, Journal of oral and maxillofacial surgery, vol. 39, pp. 103-113.
I concur with all previous answers. Pain and especially recurrent pain while exercising is an absolute indication for a need to consult with a doctor. In such a case, I would stop working with that client and obtain a new medical clearance for exercise participation while specifying on the form your client’s signs and symptoms during exercise. I suspect hypertension, possibly in the eye. It could be precursor signs of a stroke. Either way, best not to play doctor and urge your client to see a one before resuming his/her program with you.
